In the SPOTLIGHT: Damien Rice

 Damien Rice is an Irish acoustic pop/rock artist. What everyone generally knows about him is that, his music is widely used in TV shows like Greys Anatomy, Misfits, One Tree Hill and even several movies. I came across his songs on one of the Grey’s episodes that featured 9 crimes in the climax sequence. I was taken aback immediately by the bare boned structure of the songs: male vocals, female vocals and piano. It simply made the scene that was being depicted; honestly it was an OK one. But the song got the right chord struck to make me as an audience feel for that moment.

In the SPOTLIGHT/ Musical Breakdowns: Reggae & The 2nd generation Marley’s

It would be unfair to address any work on the Marley’s without acknowledging the history and mystery of Rastafarianism. It originated in the heart of Africa, in the land of Ethiopia. Here came about the religion that redefined the outlook and approach of how life would be lived in Christian Africa and the West Indies. Through this came about an indigenous expression of worship and energy called the Reggae music movement. It was entrenched into the Rastafarian culture and the way the people saw life.

 It was true in every way to what the culture represents. Embodying the spirit of freedom, reflection, forgiveness, mercy and peace. A whole lot of the percussive rhythm in reggae comes from West Indian folk music meshed with popular American genres of the 60’s – Jazz and R&B.

 Enter – Reggae.

In the SPOTLIGHT: Tom Waits

Tom Waits is quite ably the most non-mainstream but influential musician of all time. He won’t be covered by the billboards of the world or rolling stones as one of the greatest song writers of all times besides Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen etc. But quite honestly, this man and his cult following have stood the test of 4 decades of musical madness.

In the SPOTLIGHT: Leonard Cohen

Well people, this piece is going to be straight from the heart... Leonard Cohen is by far the most influential songwriter/musician for me, personally. I’ve heard this man’s discography through and through, there’s not a single second worth of anything below par than sheer musical genius in his work. I was so deeply moved by Leonard Cohen’s song writing style that most of my compositions resonate this unique style of his each time I put my thoughts down. That eclectic mix of literary painting of a landscape with enigmatic rhyme schemes, the feeling it gives you is something that truly falls short of anything comparable. It’s not music, Leonard Cohen is an experience.

In The SPOTLIGHT : Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak (indie,pop rock,rockabilly)

In The SPOTLIGHT: Neil Young

Wow. I can’t believe this guy isn’t crowned king of song writing (although he’d share it with Bob Dylan). Neil Young is a multi genre maverick, whose contribution is nothing short of being all across the board on rock music. His, sounds and tones, in terms of instruments, are brilliantly set but he’s all too careful so as to not allowing them to take center stage.